Etymologically
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theosophia

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tʰe.ɔˈsɔ.pʰi.a][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [te.oˈs̬ɔː.fi.a][1]

Forms

theosophia f (genitive theosophiae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek θεοσοφία (theosophía, “knowledge of things divine”),[1][2][3] from θεός (theós, “god”) and σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”).[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it, from Niermeyer, to the 12th century, with the sense of knowledge of God;[2] Etymonline attributes the medieval word to John Scotus Eriugena.[3]

Semantic evolution

In one letter cited by the DMLBS the edition prints theosophia where the manuscript has theosebia “piety towards God”.[4] Neo-Latin used it for the knowledge and esteem of things beyond this world: a poem of 1504 in the Amerbach correspondence opens Theosophia latet, “theosophy lies hidden”, and the Arbatel defines it as knowledge of the word of God and of his government through the angels, with cacosophia as its opposite.[5] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for the doctrine of theosophy, which the Church rejected.[6] English theosophy is first implied in the 1640s.[3]

Timeline

  • 12th century – Recorded in Medieval Latin for knowledge of God.[2]
  • 1504 – A poem in the Amerbach correspondence uses it.[5]
  • 1640s – English theosophy is first implied, in theosophical.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) knowledge of God or of divine things.[2][5]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) theosophy, as a doctrine.[6][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson